Variable-shape connection device for straps, objects, portions of garments and accessories

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device for connecting straps, objects or portions of garments and accessories forming a quick-snap buckle. The device according to the invention comprises, in accordance with a first feature, two strictly identical and complementary parts, such that said parts may be combined to thus form a single assembly. To achieve said assembly, said parts have a main body provided with two or three parallel lobes ( 2 - 5 ) that are flat and curved portions that fit into one another, wherein said lobes have circular movable members that bend in order to lock the device, for the male portion of said members, and circular movable members that bend and are equivalent to push buttons ( 6 ) to release the device, for the female portion of said members. The architecture and the mode of connection of the parts make it possible to assemble not just two parts, but also three, four, five parts or more, and simultaneously make it possible to work with special functionalities or specific strap shapes.

The present invention relates to a device intended for ensuringconnection of straps, objects or portions of garments and accessories.This device which is a loop with fast clip fastening loop has a certainnumber of advantages as compared with conventional systems, the latteractually have not been able to be renewed both as regards functionalityand rationalisation of their components.

The device according to the invention gives the possibility of meetingthese needs, it actually includes according to a first characteristictwo strictly identical and complementary parts, so that they may beassociated so as to thereby form a consistent assembly, to do this,these parts have a main body provided with two or three parallel lobeswhich are flat and curved portions which will nest into each other,these lobes being fitted on the one hand with mobile members of acircular shape operating in flexure and ensuring the locking of thedevice for their male portion and on the other hand with mobile membersof a circular shape working in flexure assimilated with push buttons,ensuring unlocking of the device for their female portion, thearchitecture of the parts and their connection method not only allowsassembling of two parts but also of three, four, five parts, or furthersimultaneously thereby allowing the meeting of particularfunctionalities and to specific strap geometries.

According to particular embodiments:

-   -   The implantation of the loop intended for attaching the strap        may vary, it may be implanted as a protrusion relatively to the        main body, or be directly integrated to the latter.    -   The geometry of the push buttons may vary according to        considerations related to the ergonomics or to the geometry of        the main body of the parts.

The appended drawings, illustrate the invention:

FIG. 1 illustrates one of the complementary parts as seen from thefront.

FIG. 2 illustrates one of the complementary parts in an axonometricview.

FIG. 3 illustrates one of the complementary parts as seen from the leftside.

FIG. 4 illustrates one of the complementary parts as seen from the rightside.

FIG. 5 illustrates two complementary parts assembled in a front view anda horizontal and central sectional view along CC centred on the lockingmembers of the device.

FIG. 6 illustrates a first alternative of one of the complementary partsin an axonometric view.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second alternative of one of the complementaryparts in a front view.

FIG. 8 illustrates a second alternative of one of the complementaryparts in an axonometric view.

FIG. 9 illustrates an assembly locked with a second alternative of twocomplementary parts in a front view and a vertical section according toEE, centred on the locking members of the left portion of said assembly.

With reference to these drawings, the device includes two plastic partsor of any other suitable material for which the main body provided witha pierced hole (1), (FIG. 1) has a shape included in a circle, theseparts are strictly identical. These two identical parts are alsocomplementary, since they may be associated and fitted into each otherin order to form a functional assembly intended to connect straps,portions of accessories and any other type of flexible or rigidconnection. The assembly method of both of these parts is intuitivesince it is based on an architecture not leaving any doubt as to theircomplementarity. Thus, each part consists of a stack of rounded portionsallowing their mutual nesting. These rounded portions are lobes (2),(FIG. 3) for which the plot is defined along a curve of the sinusoidaltype. Three types of lobe are distinguished: the upper lobe (3) (FIG. 2)which forms the upper portion of the part, the lower lobe (4), (FIG. 2)which forms the low portion of the part and for which the plot coincideswith that of the upper lobe (3). The intermediate lobe (5), (FIG. 2)which is “sandwiched” between the upper (3) and lower (4) lobes andwhich does not coincide with the latter but makes up oppositelyaccording to a vertical and central symmetry axis. The upper lobe (3) isprovided in its central portion with a cut-out crossing it right throughand forming a pusher button (6), (FIG. 1) provided with a circularpierced hole (7), (FIG. 1). This pusher button (6) is attached to theupper lobe (3), in its rear portion, by a plastic segment in factforming a flexible hinge (8), (FIG. 1) and allowing its movement throughthe thickness of the upper lobe (3) when pressure is exerted on thelatter. This push button (6) is of an asymmetrical nature since it hason a portion of its perimeter oriented towards the central portion ofthe part, a protrusion (9), (FIG. 1) of a parallelepipedal shape. Thesubface of the push button (6) does not coincide with the plane of thesubface of the upper lobe (3), but is slightly set back from the latterwhich generates a reservation area intended to receive the protrudingportion of a complementary part belonging to the intermediate lobe (5)of the complementary part. The upper face of the push button (6) isswollen so that its profile forms a protruding portion with respect tothe external surface of the upper lobe (3). The lower lobe (4) isprovided with a quasi-circular pierced hole (10), (FIG. 2) for which theplot is exactly defined by a projection of the cut-out of the pushbutton (6) from the upper lobe (3) through the latter.

The intermediate lobe (5) is provided in its central portion with acut-out crossing it right through and forming a locking washer (11),(FIG. 1) for which the truncated profile (11 a), (FIG. 4) slightly jutsout from the plane of the upper face of this intermediate lobe (5). Thislocking washer (11) is attached to the intermediate lobe (5) in itsfront portion by a plastic segment in fact forming a flexible hinge(12), (FIG. 1) and allowing its movement through the thickness of theintermediate lobe (5) when pressure is exerted on the latter. Thesubface of the locking washer (11) does not coincide with the plane ofthe subface of the intermediate lobe (5), but is slightly set back fromthe latter which generates a reservation area intended to receive thedisplacement of this locking washer (11) so that its thickness isexactly contained in the thickness of the intermediate lobe (5) at thismoment. The main lobe of the part is provided in its rear portion with aprotruding structure (13), (FIG. 1) forming a loop intended to receivethe passage of a strap attaching it to any type of object, garment oraccessory.

According to a first illustrated alternative (FIG. 6), the side portionsof the lobes of the part may be trimmed so that the part has a morecompact shape of the parallelepipedal type and therefore providing lesscongestion according to certain needs or uses. This trimming does notmodify the essential features of the part which retain the samefunctional properties. It is simply ascertained in this case aredefinition of certain portions of the latter, like the push buttons(6) so that their operation is adequate with these new geometricalcharacteristics.

According to a second illustrated alternative (FIG. 7), each part of thedevice only has two lobes. In this scenario, there is no longer anyintermediate lobe, but only an upper lobe (15), (FIG. 7) and a lowerlobe (16), (FIG. 7) shared by a vertical and central axis of symmetry.This suppression of a lobe requires certain particular arrangementsguaranteeing on the one hand the perfect constraint of both parts duringtheir junction and secondly the preservation of the functionalities ofthe device notably in terms of addition of additional parts.

In order to guarantee perfect constraint of both parts during theirassembling and therefore for obtaining an efficient locking, the partintegrates new arrangements intended to block the lobes. Thus, presenceof a cavity (17), (FIG. 8), a female portion, is ascertained, made inthe curvature of the internal face of the upper lobe (15). Also, thepresence of a similar cavity (18), (FIG. 9) is ascertained made in thecurvature of the internal face of the lower lobe (16). In these cavities(17, 18), female portions, the ends of the lobes of each part will beaccommodated therein which gives the possibility of a total constraintof the formed assembly. In order to be able to penetrate these cavities(17, 18), the ends of each lobe have on their edges, an area of lesserthickness (19), (FIG. 7). This area with less thickness is not limitedto the front end of each lobe but is developed concentrically over thewhole of their external perimeter.

In this second alternative, the part no longer has a protrudingstructure (13), but directly integrates it jointly with the pierced hole(1) of its main body via areas with less thickness (21), (FIG. 7)thereby forming a loop intended to receive the passage of a strapallowing it to be attached to any type of object, garment or accessory.

The device and its thereby defined alternatives therefore give thepossibility of connecting the straps with each other or directlyportions of an object, garments and accessories having to be united anddisunited at will. When both identical and complementary portions of thedevice are connected, the lobes penetrate into each other and thelocking washer (11) of each part is subject to a pressure from the upperlobe (3, 15), (second alternative) which forces it to move downwards inits housing. At this moment, its thickness is found to be perfectlycontained in the thickness of the intermediate lobe (5), or of the lowerlobe (16), (second alternative) thereby allowing the lobes of each partto be perfectly positioned in abutment at the bottom of the curvature oftheir complementary portion. At this instant, the locking washer (11) ofeach part is no longer constrained by a vertical pressure since itencounters the reservation of the subface of the push button (6) whichallows it to move upwards and to accommodate in this reservation. Theassembly is therefore locked. In order to receive one or severaladditional parts, it is sufficient to exert a pressure on one of thepush buttons (6) which will consequently push back the locking washer(11) in the thickness of its respective lobe (5, 16) and allow partialopening of the assembly. Actually, at this instant, both parts are onlyassembled through a single locking washer (11) which in fact becomes apivot. This pivot induces a degree of freedom allowing rotation of theparts relatively to each other and therefore the opening of the systemgiving the possibility of receiving and of connecting one or severaladditional parts depending on the needs to be satisfied.

1. A device intended for ensuring the connection of straps, objects orportions of garments and of accessories characterised in that itincludes two strictly identical and complementary parts, so that theymay be associated so as to thereby form a consistent assembly, to dothis these parts have a main body provided with two or three parallellobes which are flat and curved portions which will nest into eachother, these lobes are equipped on the one hand with mobile members of acircular shape working in flexure and ensuring the locking of the devicefor their male portion and on the other hand with mobile members of acircular shape working in flexure assimilated with push buttons,ensuring the unlocking of the device for their female portion, thearchitecture of the parts and their connection mode not only allowsassembling of both parts but also of three, four, five parts, or more,simultaneously thereby giving the possibility of meeting particularfunctionalities or specific strap geometries.
 2. The device according toclaim 1, characterised in that each part consists of a stack of roundedportions allowing their mutual nesting, these rounded portions are lobes(2), for which the plot is defined according to a curve of a sinusoidaltype. cm
 3. The device according to claim 2, characterised in that threelobe types are distinguished: an upper lobe (3), which forms the upperportion of the part, a lower lobe (4), which forms the low portion ofthe part and for which the plot coincides with that of the upper lobe(3), and an intermediate lobe (5), which is “sandwiched” between theupper (3) and lower (4) lobes and which does not coincide with thelatter but is built on the contrary oppositely according to a verticaland central axis of symmetry.
 4. The device according to claim 3,characterised in that the upper lobe (3) is provided in its centralportion with a cut-out crossing it right through and forming a pushbutton (6), provided with a circular pierced hole (7).
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 4, characterised in that the push button (6) isattached to the upper lobe (3), in its rear portion, with a plasticsegment in fact forming a flexible hinge (8), and allowing its movementthrough the thickness of the upper lobe (3) when pressure is exerted onthe latter. cm
 6. The device according to claim 4, characterised in thatthis push button (6) is of an asymmetrical nature since it has on aportion of its perimeter oriented towards the central portion of thepart, a protrusion (9), of a parallelepipedal shape.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 4, characterised in that the subface of the pushbutton (6) is not found coinciding with the plane of the subface of theupper lobe (3), but is slightly set back from the latter which generatesa reservation area intended to receive the protruding portion of acomplementary part belonging to the intermediate lobe (5) of thecomplementary part.
 8. The device according to claim 4, characterised inthat the upper face of the push button (6) is swollen so that itsprofile forms a protruding portion relatively to the external surface ofthe upper lobe (3).
 9. The device according to claim 1, characterised inthat the lower lobe (4) is provided with a pierced hole (10),quasi-circular for which the plot is exactly defined by a projection ofthe cut-out of the push button (6) of the upper lobe (3) through thelatter.
 10. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that theintermediate lobe (5) is provided in its central portion with a cut-outcrossing it right through and forming a locking washer (11), for whichthe truncated profile (11 a), slightly juts out from the plane of theupper face of this intermediate lobe (5).
 11. The device according toclaim 10, characterised in that the locking washer (11) is attached tothe intermediate lobe (5) in its front portion by a plastic segment infact forming a flexible hinge (12), and allowing its movement throughthe thickness of the intermediate lobe (5) when pressure is exerted onthe latter.
 12. The device according to claim 10, characterised in thatthe subface of the locking washer (11) does not coincide with the planeof the subface of the intermediate lobe (5), but is slightly set backfrom the latter which generates a reservation area intended forreceiving the displacement of this locking washer (11) so that itsthickness is exactly found contained in the thickness of theintermediate lobe (5) at this moment.
 13. The device according to claim1, characterised in that the main body of the part is provided in itsrear portion with a protruding structure (13), forming a loop intendedto receive the passage of a strap attaching it to any type of object,garment or accessory.
 14. The device according to claim 1, characterisedin that the side portions of the lobes (3, 4, 5) of the part are trimmedso that the part has a more compact shape of the parallelepipedal type,this trimming does not modify the essential characteristics of the partwhich retains the same functional properties, it is simply seen in thiscase a redefinition of certain portions thereof, like the push buttons(6) so that their operation is suitable with these new geometricalcharacteristics.
 15. The device according to claim 1, characterised inthat each part of the device only has two lobes (15, 16). In thisscenario, there is no longer any intermediate lobe, but only an upperlobe (15), and a lower lobe (16), shared by a vertical and central axisof symmetry, this suppression of a lobe requires certain particulararrangements guaranteeing on the one hand the perfect constraint of bothparts during their junction and secondly the preservation of thefunctionalities of the device notably in terms of adding additionalparts.
 16. The device according to claim 15, characterised in that forguaranteeing a perfect constraint of both parts during their assemblingand therefore for obtaining an efficient lock, the part integrates newarrangements intended to block the lobes, thus, the presence of a cavity(17), a female portion is seen, arranged in the curvature of theinternal face of the upper lobe (15), also the presence of a similarcavity (18) is seen, made in the curvature of the internal face of thelower lobe (16).
 17. The device according to claim 16, characterised inthat in the cavities (17, 18), female portions, will house the ends ofthe lobes (15, 16) of each part which allows a total constraint of theformed assembly.
 18. The device according to claim 17, characterised inthat in order to be able to penetrate these cavities (17, 18), the endsof each lobe have on their edges, an area with lesser thickness (19);this area of lesser thickness is not limited to the front end of eachlobe but developed concentrically over the whole of their externalperimeter.
 19. The device according to claim 15, characterised in thatthe part no longer has a protruding structure (13), but directlyintegrates it jointly with the pierced hole (1) of its main body viaareas with lesser thickness (21), thereby forming a loop intended toreceive the passage of a strap allowing attachment of it to any type ofobject, garment or accessory.
 20. The device according to claim 1,characterised in that both identical and complementary portions of thedevice are connected, the lobes penetrate into each other and thelocking washer (11) of each part is subject to a pressure from the upperlobe (3, 15), which forces it to move down in its housing.
 21. Thedevice according to claim 20, characterised in that at this moment, itsthickness is found perfectly contained in the thickness of theintermediate lobe (5), or of the lower lobe (16), thereby allowing thelobes of each part to be perfectly positioned in abutment at the bottomof the curvature of their complementary parts.
 22. The device accordingto claim 21, characterised in that at this instant, the locking washer(11) of each part is no longer constrained by a vertical pressure sinceit encounters the reservation of the subface of the push button (6)which allows it to move upwards and to be accommodated in thisreservation, the assembly is therefore found locked.
 23. The deviceaccording to claim 1 characterised in that for receiving one or severaladditional parts, it is sufficient to exert pressure on one of the pushbuttons (6) which will consequently push back the locking washer (11) inthe thickness of its respective lobe (5, 16) and allow partial openingof the assembly.
 24. The device according to claim 23, characterised inthat at this moment, both parts are only assembled through a singlelocking washer (11) which in fact becomes a pivot, this pivot induces adegree of freedom allowing the rotation of the parts relatively to eachother and therefore the opening of the system allowing reception andconnection of one or several additional parts depending on the needs tobe met.